Application of digital image analysis techniques to antimisting fuel spray characterization

Conference · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1983 · Am. Soc. Mech. Eng., (Pap.); (United States)

OSTI ID:5464832

Fleeter, R; Sarohia, V; Toaz, R

A system for fuel mist characterization using digital image analysis and processing techniques has been developed and applied to research on aviation safety fuels. Pulsed ruby laser sheet illumination of the spray is used for initial data recording on very high resolution photographic film. Digitization of mosaic elements is accomplished with a vidicon and video digitizer whose output is stored in computer RAM (Random Access Memory) memory for processing. Highly non-spherical elements and a wide range of drop diameters (8-2000 ..mu..m) resulting from the unusual rheological properties of the fuel-additive system are accomodated by the device configuration and algorithms. Generation of two-dimensional images via scattered light also eliminates errors resulting from variations in the index of refraction and from the presence of submicron scattering sites often present within the modified fuel. No a priori information on the drop size distribution nor on system response to various drop sizes is required. This wide dynamic range, insensitivity to drop optical properties and the lack of a priori assumptions concerning drop shape are some of the unique features of the present analysis technique which are not available in single currently available drop counting methods. A drop histogram is generated for any portion of a spray or for an entire spray field along with local and global spray Sauter mean diameter (SMD) and density information. The technique is applied to analysis of sprays formed in a simulation of an aircraft crash with fuel spillage. Measurements of spray SMD and density are correlated with the results of flammability tests.

• Research Organization: Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California
• OSTI ID: 5464832
• Report Number(s): CONF-821101-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Am. Soc. Mech. Eng., (Pap.); (United States) Journal Volume: 82-WA/HT-23
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
023000* -- Petroleum-- Properties & Composition
ACCIDENTS
ADDITIVES
ALGORITHMS
AVIATION FUELS
CAMERA TUBES
CONFIGURATION
DATA
DATA COVARIANCES
DATA PROCESSING
DENSITY
DIGITIZERS
DROPLETS
EVALUATED DATA
FLAME PROPAGATION
FUEL ADDITIVES
FUELS
IMAGE SCANNERS
IMAGE TUBES
INFORMATION
LASER SPECTROSCOPY
LASERS
MATHEMATICAL LOGIC
NUMERICAL DATA
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
PARTICLES
PHOTOGRAPHIC FILMS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PROCESSING
REFRACTIVITY
RHEOLOGY
RUBY LASERS
SHAPE
SIZE
SOLID STATE LASERS
SPECTROSCOPY
SPRAYS
VIDICONS